Multi-institutional trials of radiation and Furtulon combination therapy for malignant tumors

The efficacy of the response and safety in combination therapy of radiation and Furtulon, a derivative of fluoropyrimidine, for malignant tumors were tested on a multi-institutional basis. Patients in this study were given daily 800 mg of oral Furtulon and also irradiations. Twenty-three out of 30 evaluable cases showed CR or PR response (response rate was 77%). The response rates of the cases classified into regions of primary sites were 67% for stomach (4/6), 57% for colorectum (4/7), 100% for breast (9/9), 67% for esophagus (4/6), 100% for ovarium (1/1) and 100% for lung (1/1). Four out of 36 cases were not given the full scheduled treatments due to grade 3 side effects, consisting of one diarrhea case suspected due to Furtulon side effect, 2 impaired general condition cases according to the progression of diseases, and one case showing radiation dermatitis, dysphagia due to radiation mucositis and leukocytopenia. These results show that the combination therapy of radiation and Furtulon is an efficacious, safe modality for primary and metastatic tumors. (author)